Artists help make Wasaga Beach a more livable town - a town of people and neighborhoods, a center of cultural life, and a stronger economic center. They function as small businesses by providing jobs and services for beach residents. Artists help transform marginal neighborhoods into dynamic communities. Frequently, festivals, galleries, small performance spaces and small retail spring up in these same areas through the work of resident artists, generating a vibrant street life that acts as a deterrent to crime, dramatically enhancing the quality of neighborhoods for both the people who live there and people who visit. But do Wasaga Beach Artists have dedicated spaces to work and live in?

Space/real estate concerns are a primary issue for Wasaga Beach artists. Is the Mayor's Office working to retain existing spaces for artists and creating new ones?

Wasaga Beach needs to create spaces that:are permanently dedicated to artists through deed restrictions or similar legal mechanisms;are located in buffer zones between industrial and residential neighborhoods in locations that do not support traditional family housing; andoffer live/work spaces (space where artists combine their residence with their work area, typically in an open floor plan offering large, flexible work areas) or work-only spaces (where residential use is not allowed) for rent and for purchase at a variety of prices with a preference for Wasaga Beach residents.

Tourists in Wasaga Beach generate money for our town. Most people think of tourists as visitors from other areas of the country or other countries altogether. But because Wasaga Beach "could" host so many varied vacation and cultural experiences, it benefits us all to expand our definition of tourists as people who live close by, in the next town over, or clear across the province.

"Cultural Tourism."Annually, tourists in Wasaga Beach:Generate direct spendingGenerate revenue in provincial and local taxesSupport jobs in a variety of industries

What, Exactly, is Cultural Tourism?

Cultural Tourism is the travel industry's term describing travel and visitation activities directed at an area's arts, heritage, recreational and natural resources. Visitors make destination choices related directly to a region's performance, artistic, architecture and historical offerings. In Wasaga Beach, we have one of the world's greatest natural destinations, but do we have one of the world's best cultural destinations?

Why Is Cultural Tourism Hot Now?

Cultural Tourists are a force to be reckoned with.

Here's why:Cultural Tourism is the fastest growing sector of the travel industry.Cultural Tourists spend $62 more per day and $200 more per trip than other travelers.Cultural Tourists include multiple destinations during a visit and stay one half-day longer at each destination.Cultural Tourists have higher levels of income.How Can I Take Advantage of the Cultural Tourism Boom?

Getting a piece of the Cultural Tourism pie takes planning, creativity, collaboration and a good knowledge of the basics.

Check out MCC to learn how they are succeeding in Cultural Tourism. What can we all do next?

Share the colour that's changing lives. You could win amazing prizes and help Avon donate up to $500,000 to breast cancer orgainizations across Canada. You vote...Avon gives $2.At Avon, every month is breast cancer awareness month. Since 1992, Avon’s breast cancer crusade has donated over $16 million to breast cancer research by launching unique and innovative programs that reach out to the public and invite them to make a difference in the fight against a disease that will affect 1 in 9... (read more)

Mission:This summer Avon invites Canadians to Paint it Pink! Join us from June – September as we spread some pink nationwide. Our mission is to give each and every individual the chance to make a difference in the fight against breast cancer.Here's what YOU can do: Share your expressions of pink at http://www.paintitpinkcanada.com/ It’s as easy as 1-2-3:1) Make a statement in pink2) Upload a photo of it onto our site3) Invite friends to vote for your pictureAvon will donate $2 per vote to breast Cancer organizations across Canada.Log on today and nominate a charity in your neighborhood. Every vote counts because Avon has up to $500,000 to give. http://www.paintitpinkcanada.com/

And it has begun! The Blue Pumpkin Festival planning is in full swing. It will be a great way to get visitors to come to our town long after Labor Day and well into Thanksgiving/Halloween season. (Logo design Arthur Scott Kononuk) More details here.

Disclaimer: The Blue Pumpkin Festival name and logo are the property of Perk Promo and must not be used in any form without the prior written consent of Perk Promo. Copyright 2009

Sunday, September 6, 2009

Blue Pumpkins will be taking over the beach! Wasaga Beachis hosting its first annual The Blue Pumpkin Festival' this coming October. (Yeah! Remember my wish list?)Get your pumpkins spray painted, join in on the golf tournament, showcase your blue pumpkin creativity - do you grow blue pumpkins? It all came about because of Linda's blue sparkly pumpkin. Now it's all the rage! Perhaps we will enter the book of records for the most blue pumpkins. Tell your neighbours, friends and family to visit the beach in October. (This event will extend our tourism well into the fall and the local businesses need that!) What Fun! More details from Bill Frieday. here and here.

BEACH POST EDITOR

Patti Friday is an Author |Artist who lives and works in Wasaga Beach, Ontario. She is best known as the Editor of the internationally popular blog Embassy of Ideas andLiberty Post. Follow her Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest. Patti has authored 7books: Babies (a novel), Fresh Water, A Photographic Souvenir of Wasaga Beach (a photography book), Lilac Swirl, Hoit Farm, The Pirate Code, Honey Honey Honey Listen and Society of Prophet Men (a book of selected poems). She is the Founder & Editor of The Beach Post. Patti's ART SHOP is OPEN.

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The Beach Post covers a wide variety of topics, including home, entertainment, sports, media, living, business, the arts, culture, style and the green movement. The Beach Post was launched on March 24th, 2009 to showcase the beauty of Wasaga Beach, Ontario, Canada. No trees were used to produce The Beach Post. Subscriptions are FREE.

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